The main event of the whole symposium is the Chuck Wagon Cook-Off, where teams cook lunch from antique old turn-of-the-century chuck wagons, just like the cowboys would have used. They are judged on both the wagon's authenticity (if all the parts and cookware are old) as well as the taste of the food they cook. This year, 14 teams of wagons competed.

Randy Whipple inherited this chuck wagon from his father, who bought it in Oklahoma. He and his family were not only among the youngest competitors, but they were also the friendliest and offered me beer and pizza, and made me drink some crazy shot with Everclear and apple juice.

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3.The chuck wagons are judged on how authentic all their accessories are.

I had never had chicken fried steak before, and I realize now I had truly never lived.

For $20, you could buy a meal ticket to a chuck wagon. They all served the same thing — chicken fried steak, potatoes, beans, biscuits, and a fruit cobbler for dessert. Chuck wagon teams could win prizes for the best of each dish, as well as an overall cash prize of $700.

Davis founded the Cowboy Symposium 25 years ago. He's 84, fought in WWII, and claims to be the only person to have been inducted into the 4H Hall of Fame twice (by clerical error). He has a big belt buckle with his name on it.

16.Members of the Comanche tribe make it out to the symposium every year.

These are descendants of a Comanche cheif named Quanah Parker. Parker was the son of a Comanche chief and a white woman who had been kidnapped as a young girl (she was kidnapped back by the Texas Rangers as an adult and spent the last 10 years of her life heartbroken over being separated from the tribe and her family), and an important figure in Native American history who was friendly with Teddy Roosevelt.

The women of the Quanah Parker Society were delighted to see Mr. Davis, and they've gotten very close over the years. Mr. Davis was presented with a large painting of a Native American in appreciation of his work for the symposium.

At the beginning of the Quanah Parker Society's presentation, military veterans (almost all men) were honored. This was a ceremony where a whistle was blown in four directions in honor of those who were lost.

The more beaver, the more expensive. This hat is 100% beaver, but other hats are 80%, 50%, or even 0%. Rabbit fur makes up the difference, but it isn't as soft or water resistant. However, in Australia, everyone wants 100% rabbit fur hats, no beaver. I guess because there are no beavers in Australia.

This guy was 22 years old and works as a rancher on his family's ranch. Every morning he gets up at 5am, picks a dog for the day (!!!), picks a horse, and rides out to check on the cattle, mend fences, and do other cowboy things. He also rides broncos in the rodeo for fun on the weekends.

He called me "ma'am" and looked like Tim Riggins meets Luke Perry in 8 Seconds.

This photo doesn't do him justice.

42.The only hipsters there were foreign exchange students from England.

What is up with this? I was sitting quietly by myself off the the side as to not be rude, and old people would just come up and start making fun of me for looking at my phone. This guy stopped me while I was writing an email. This also happened a lot when I went to a Mormon pageant. Hey old people, the new rules state it's more rude for you to interrupt me than it is for me to be on my phone not bothering anyone. Capiche, gramps?

By the way, this man was absolutely lovely and friendly and charming. I was glad he stopped me to chat.

Ranching culture is a big deal in West Texas. People feel very emotionally attached to it — even if they're not ranchers or cowboys themselves, their parents or grandparents were. I assumed the cattle industry was all corporate and mechanized now, but there's still about 150 big ranches out there that raise cattle the old-fashioned way.

The museum was really fancy and seemed extremely well-funded. It had several rebuilt outdoor barns and structures as well as a collection of ranching memorabilia.

These two were going to a frat party later at Texas Tech where new pledges were supposed to dress as "illegal immigrants." Later that night at the Sonic Drive-In, I saw a car full of young men dressed up in ponchos and somberos, clearly on their way to the party.

68.Everyone remembers that salsa ad where they say "New York City?!"

I can't tell you how many people did a reenactment of this commercial when I told them I was from New York. Maybe like 10 people, which is really a lot, when you consider this ad is probably 15 years old.